Rob: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I’m Rob and joining me in the
studio today is Jennifer. Welcome, Jennifer!
Jennifer: Hi there. Now Rob, I believe our subject for discussion this week is a load
of rubbish?!
Rob: I wouldn’t put it exactly like that. We are talking about rubbish – or to use
another word – junk – and hearing some language about a subject that is
out of this world – space junk.
Jennifer: Yes, here on planet Earth we don’t like seeing rubbish or litter on our
streets but in space the problem is far more serious and it could even be
catastrophic – so it could lead to a serious disaster.
Rob: Well, we’ll hear more about that in a moment and also find out how
scientists are going to clear up this mess. But, before that, I think we
should blast off with a space-related question. Now, did you know, the
Russian satellite, Sputnik, was the first man-made object to be blasted
into space? Do you know in which year it was launched?
a) 1957
b) 1960
c) 1967
Jennifer: I think it was in the sixties perhaps so I’m going to say b) 1960.
Rob: Well, we will find out if you are right at the end of the programme. So,
we’ve mentioned that junk – or debris – floating around in space is a big
problem. It can take a long time to tidy up your house so imagine the
challenge that lies ahead in tidying up the great mess in outer space.
That’s something that’s been discussed at a recent conference on space
debris in Germany.
Jennifer: Well, tidying up space is not something I would like to do! But how did all
this rubbish end up floating about up there in the first place?
Rob: A good question. For the past 50 years, man has been sending objects like
rockets and satellites into orbit. In fact, even now around 70 satellites are
sent into space every year. But when they are no longer needed they are
just left up there and not disposed of – or put away somewhere where
they won’t cause harm. They were never designed to be brought back
down to Earth.
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Jennifer: These old fragments – or bits of technology continue to circle the Earth
and become a threat to spacecraft which are operating up there. In 2009,
for example, two satellites accidently hit each other – or collided - causing
them to break into small pieces.
Rob: That’s added to the millions of small pieces of junk that are just floating
around that might never be recovered – in other words collected and
brought back down to Earth. Let's hear more about this Professor Richard
Crowther, Chief Engineer at the UK Space Agency. What other issue does
he compare this problem with?
Professor Richard Crowther, Chief Engineer at the UK Space Agency:
Perhaps the most alarming factor is, even if we stop launching anything in to orbit from
now on we would still see collisions occurring between satellites currently up there. But
we recognise that if we want to actively manage this problem we have to do something
now. It’s like global warming – we’re not 100% certain that a certain scenario will occur
but we have a pretty good idea of what’s dominating and what’s influencing the
evolution.
Rob: Professor Crowther mentioned an ‘alarming factor’, so a very worrying
piece of information, that even if we didn’t put any more objects into
space there is already a risk of the current satellites hitting each other.
These satellites are the ones that we depend on for communications,
watching TV, weather forecasting and for using satellite navigation –
satnavs.
Jennifer: Well, that’s why he says we have to do something now. He predicts
catastrophic – or very bad - collisions could occur every five to nine years
unless something is done. He compares the problem with global warming.
It’s serious. We’re not sure what might happen in the future but we do
need to protect against it.
Rob: Maybe they need a huge vacuum cleaner, or what about a giant magnet to
gather up all that metal clutter?
Jennifer: Hmm, I think you’re talking rubbish – or saying things that will never
happen. But there are some more realistic ideas being developed such as
using nets, lasers to destroy the pieces of junk and a harpoon to catch
them.
Rob: It sounds like science-fiction – something you just read about in stories.
But are these ideas really being developed?
Jennifer: Yes, although research is in its very early stages. A harpoon could be fired
at a redundant - or no longer working - satellite and then it would be
pulled downwards to burn up in the atmosphere.
Rob: But, surely up in space, lasers and harpoons might be thought of as
weapons which could be used in a space war?
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Jennifer: Well, according to Professor Richard Crowther, it is something that will
need managing. What does he suggest?
Professor Richard Crowther, Chief Engineer at the UK Space Agency
If you’ve watched James Bond films over the years, you know that anything with a
harpoon, with a laser, with a net in space, has the potential to grab another spacecraft
and destroy it, so what we need to do is build reassurance within the space community
and demonstrate that the systems being proposed are peaceful in their nature but also
peaceful in the intent and the way in which they are going to be used.
Jennifer: He talked about reassuring – or explaining – that the new technology is of
a peaceful nature. That means it’s not for use in war or violence. He says
the intent – or the purpose behind using it – is good not bad.
Rob: OK, well there’s one thing back on planet Earth that needs tidying up and
that’s the answer to today’s question. Earlier I mentioned that the Russian
satellite, Sputnik, was the first man-made object to be blasted into space.
But did you know in which year it was launched?
Jennifer: I said b) 1960.
Rob: And I’m afraid you were wrong! It launched in 1957. OK, we’re almost out
of time now, so Jennifer, could you remind us of some of the words and
phrases we’ve heard today?
Jennifer: Yes. They were:
junk
mess
debris
disposed of
recovered
clutter
talking rubbish
redundant
Rob: Thanks. Let’s get our feet back on the ground now and say farewell. Bye
for now!
Jennifer: Bye!
